This 117.6-mile drive from Castle Hayne to Raleigh, North Carolina, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes to complete. You'll navigate a mix of roads, including Michael Jordan Highway and I-40, with a relatively low highway share of about 11%. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $18, making it an economical option. This route offers a practical way to travel within the Southeast region, connecting two points within North Carolina. Given its manageable length, you can depart at your convenience and arrive in Raleigh without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.8 miles from Castle Hayne, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 10m. Total distance: 117.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" for much of this 117.6-mile journey, as indicated by the low 11% highway share. While you will encounter sections of I-40, the route is characterized by more frequent changes in direction and speed. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 101.3 miles on Michael Jordan Highway, suggesting a substantial portion where you can settle into a consistent pace before transitioning to more localized roads. This drive will feel less like a high-speed interstate cruise and more like a connected series of local and regional highways.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Michael Jordan Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 101.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 102.6 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 10m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 102.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.2 miles (Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
102.6 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
115.2 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward Rock Quarry Rd North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Rock Quarry Rd North
5
116.2 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
117.4 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|South Wilmington Street
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
117.6 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|East South Street
Turn left onto East South Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Michael Jordan Highway
101.3 mi
1h 48m
I 40
12.6 mi
13m
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
1.2 mi
2m
Holly Shelter Road
1 mi
1m
Rock Quarry Road
0.7 mi
1m
South Wilmington Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Castle Hayne Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Lynn Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Michael Jordan Highway
— 101.3 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Castle Hayne, NC and Raleigh, NC.
1
Start on Lynn Avenue
53 ft·3 sec·Lynn Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 117; NC 133
382 ft·14 sec·Castle Hayne Road
3
Turn left onto Holly Shelter Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Holly Shelter Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
5
Merge onto I 40
101 mi·1 hr 48 min·Michael Jordan Highway
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
13 mi·13 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Rock Quarry Rd NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto Rock Quarry Road
0.4 mi·49 sec·Rock Quarry Road
9
Turn left onto Rock Quarry Road
0.3 mi·41 sec·Rock Quarry Road
10
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
1.2 mi·2 min·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·South Wilmington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto East South Street
24 ft·0 sec·East South Street
13
Arrive at destination
East South Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour, 10-minute drive, flexibility is key. You can easily complete the 117.6 miles in one day, so consider a morning departure to maximize your time in Raleigh. With an estimated fuel cost of $18, it's a budget-friendly trip, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Pay attention to the "turn-heavy local drive" profile; while the longest stretch is over 100 miles on Michael Jordan Highway, be prepared for more frequent adjustments as you near your destination. There are no specific stops noted, so plan your own breaks as needed.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58.8 miles from Castle Hayne, NC, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 26 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.8 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Raleigh, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Castle Hayne, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Castle Hayne, NC
This is one driving day of about 117.6 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Castle Hayne, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Michael Jordan Highway for about 101.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58.8 mi from Castle Hayne, NC
· 1h 4m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 8.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.39 one way
$36.78 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$20.11
$40.22
premium
$4.70
$21.77
$43.53
diesel
$5.61
$25.96
$51.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
8 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Tesla Supercharger
Wilmington, North Carolina
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Wallace, North Carolina
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Wallace, North Carolina
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Castle Hayne, North Carolina
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Burgaw, North Carolina
EV Connect
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Burgaw, North Carolina
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Burgaw, North Carolina
Blink
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Wallace, North Carolina
EV Connect
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 3
Tesla: 2
EV Connect: 2
Blink: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.3
0
$12.35
$5.64
Efficient EV
29.4
0
$10.29
$4.70
EV Truck/SUV
47
0
$16.46
$7.53
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Castle Hayne, NC
Late night
in Castle Hayne on Friday
Local time
1:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Raleigh, NC
Late night
in Raleigh on Friday
Local time
1:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Mount Olive, NC
59 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 10m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Castle Hayne, NC to Raleigh, NC covers 117.6 miles and takes about 2h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Michael Jordan Highway, I 40, Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.8 miles from Castle Hayne, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.39 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 2h 10m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 102.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.2 miles (Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Castle Hayne, NC to Raleigh, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
